SUVA, Fiji (2 Dec 2006) -- FIJI'S military and political leaders are both claiming to be in control of the country, with Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase coming out of hiding and returning to his Suva home on Saturday. A midday Friday deadline that the military commander gave the Qarase Government to effectively quit office, forced the Fijian Cabinet into hiding in separate, undisclosed locations on Friday night after they did not respond. Mr Qarase, who insists he is still running the country, arrived at Nausori Airport near Suva at about 10:15am and drove to his house, taking a circuitous route that avoided going past the military barracks, where Commodore Frank Bainimarama, his nemesis, is based. After arriving home, his spokesman said at the gate that he was home because the prime minister felt the threat to his security had eased overnight. Commodore Bainimarama had said on Friday night that he was effectively in control in Fiji and that his deadline of noon that day had not been extended, as Mr Qarase claims it has. He met with Vice President Ratu Joni Mabraiwiwi at about midday. Mr Qarase was expected to meet with the country's President Ratu Josefa Iloilo on Saturday afternoon. Commodore Bainimarama said on Friday the passing of his high-noon deadline for the Government of Laisenia Qarase to give in to his demands had given him the "green light" to embark on his so-called clean-up campaign. Mr Qarase said later that afternoon that the Government was still firmly in control, but the fact that he had to make the claim from a secret location suggested otherwise. He said his cabinet had split up and gone to a number of different locations and would be moving from place to place, effectively on the run from the military, which had been threatening to stage the nation's fourth coup in almost 20 years. It is understood Commodore Bainimarama has already formed an interim administration to take over the functions of government. On the streets of Suva, people queued to stock up on food, water and petrol and withdraw cash from automatic teller machines. Many shops closed at lunchtime, with some, particularly in the city's Indian quarter, boarding their windows. There is a weary resignation in the eyes of many residents who lived through the coups of 1987 and 2000. As the day wore on, increasing numbers of troops in battle gear were seen driving in trucks around the city. In rugby-mad Fiji, football takes precedence, even over a coup, so in the latest of a series of surreal moments, the political crisis was put on hold Friday afternoon for the annual army-versus-police showdown at Suva's main stadium. Commodore Bainimarama said nothing would happen until after the game. "I maintain my demands and the deadline still stands, and I will make a commitment to my stand after the rugby match," he said. | | Who's in control: Military chief Frank Bainimarama (left) or Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase (right)? The rugby served as a bizarre prelude to the anticipated events of the next few days, given that tensions between the police and military are at the heart of the political crisis. In a nail-biting finish in the rain, the police team won by two points to the strains of the song Simply the Best. The victors were then invited by Commodore Bainimarama to a grog (kava) session at the officer's mess at Queen Elizabeth Barracks. Earlier in the day, the military commander had again attacked the nation's Australian police chief, Andrew Hughes, declaring that he was to blame for the split between the military and police. Mr Hughes had just given a press conference in Cairns, run live on Fiji radio, where he declared that he was still in charge. Mr Qarase has branded Commodore Bainimarama "deranged" and "unstable", as have other senior figures, who believe he is suffering from post-traumatic stress from the attempt on his life during the 2000 coup. However, friends of the commander say his behaviour is not uncharacteristic. Mr Qarase told Auckland-based ethnic Indian station Radio Tarana it would be difficult to pull Fiji back from the brink of a coup, because of the military chief's mental state. Commodore Bainimarama had a 40-minute meeting with Fiji's President, Josefa Iloilo, at 10am yesterday local time, where he explained his actions. The President was expected to make a statement following the meeting but this was never issued. SOURCE - The AustralianCDNN Related News FIJI - Military commander Bainimarama 'deranged' and 'unstable' says PMFIJI - Suva quiet as deadline passesFIJI - Coup imminent: Fijians brace for high noonFIJI - Tourist cancellations surge amidst fear of Fiji military coupCDNN TRAVEL ALERT - Travelers warned to avoid Fiji: 2006-11-26FIJI - Australia warns tourists not to travel to FijiFIJI - Trouble in paradise: Tourism meltdown leads to mass layoffsCDNN SPECIAL REPORT - Racism in Paradise: Fiji |
